Key-controlled lock switch with reliable weather protection cover

ABSTRACT

The bored case of a tumbler lock has a switch on its rear end to be actuated by a key-controlled cylinder in the bore of the case, and an elastically resilient flap carried by a bracket attached to the lock case covers the front end of the lock case and the front face of the cylinder to protect the same from the elements.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Edward N. Jacobi Milwaukee, Wis. [21]Appl. No. 873,405 [22] Filed Nov. 3, I969 [45] Patented June 8,1971 [73]Assignee Briggs & Stratton Corporation Wauwatosa, Wis.

[54] KEY-CONTROLLED LOCK SWITCH WITH RELIABLE WEATHER PROTECTION COVER 4Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 70/455 [5i] E05!) 17/18 [50] Field of Search 70/455, 55;200/42, 168(9); ISO/52.9, 52.10

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,247,592 7/1941 Swift70/455 2,670.623 3/1954 Haltenberger 70/455 2,904,985 9/1959 Murphy70/51 FOREIGN PATENTS 861,805 l/l953 Germany 70/455 OTHER REFERENCESPopular Science; March, 1938; Page 93; Flap Ends Frozen Locks; W. E. W.

Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Robert L. WolfeAttorney-Ira Milton Jones ABSTRACT: The bored case of a tumbler lock hasa switch on its rear end to be actuated by a key-controlled cylinder inthe bore of the case, and an elastically resilient flap carried by abracket attached to the lock case covers the front end of the lock caseand the front face of the cylinder to protect the same from theelements.

KEY-CONTROLLED LOCK SWITCH WITH RELIABLE WEATHER PROTECTION COVER Thisinvention relates to key controlled tumbler locks and more particularlyto locks which control switches by which alarm systems on automobilescan be activated and deactivated from the exterior of the automobile bymeans of a proper key.

Automobiles used by salesmen and others who must carry sizeablequantities of valuable goods with them, are customarily equipped withsignal systems to protect against unauthorized entry into the automobileand the consequent possibility of theft, These signal systems areelectrical and are controllcd-at least deactivated-by a lock switchmounted in some exterior wall of the automobile at a point where theuninformed would not expect to find a lock. Often they are mounted on alower portion of a fender or on the grill at the front of the car, butwherever located they are subjected to the worst consequences of badweather. Snow, slush and rain and the corrosive effects of salt used tominimize the hazards of winter driving cannot be kept from theselocations. Hence, unless the lock switches are well protected from theelements, the danger of an authorized person being unable to enter hisautomobile without setting off the alarm is very real.

If the lock becomes frozen, jammed with dirt, or otherwise renderedinoperable by its key, the alarm cannot be deactivated. This presentsthe authorized driver with a most serious dilemma.

Ordinary dust covers with which key controlled automotive locks havebeen equipped for years do not provide sufficient protection at thelocations where these lock switches are placed; and to improve theirdesign and make them reliably weather proof and readily operable atthose locations in all weather conditions would entail tooling costs farin excess of the amount warranted by the limited market for such speciallock switches.

It is therefore the purpose and object of this invention to provide asimple and inexpensive way of protecting a lock switch from beingrendered inoperable by adverse weather conditions, and to that end, thelock switch is equipped with an elastically resilient flap that firmlycovers the exposed front end of the lock and especially the mouth of itskeyway, but can be easily moved to permit insertion of the key into thelock and then snaps back to its operative position upon removal of thekey.

With these observations and objectives in mind, the manner in which theinvention achieves its purpose will be appreciated from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing which exemplifies theinvention.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of theembodiment of the invention constructed according to the best mode sofar devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, andin which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a lock switch of the type with whichthis invention is concerned, illustrating the same mounted on a panelrepresentative of an exterior wall or part of an automobile on whichsuch switches are customarily placed and provided with the weatherprotection means of this invention, part ofits cover being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the structure shown in FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with a key in the lock.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 4 designatesgenerally a key-controlled lock switch mounted in a wall or panel 5which is representative of the fender, grill or other more or lessunusual location on an automobile where such lock switches arecustomarily placed.

The lock switch comprises a bored case 6 with a flange 7 at its frontend and a threaded mounting portion 8 directly behind the flange, andupon which a nut 9 is threaded. When mounted in position of use, thelock case is passed through a hole in the wall or panel 5 and is securedthereto by drawing the nut tightly against the back of the wall. In therear end portion of the bored caseand hence behind the wall 5-is aswitch 10 with exposed terminals 11 by which the switch may be connectedin an alarm system with which the automobile is equipped to signalunauthorized attempted entry.

The switch of course has movable contact means (not shown) that aredrivingly connected with a keycontrolled lock cylinder 12 mounted in thebore of the case. Rotation of the cylinder, which is possible uponinsertion into its keyway I3 of a proper key by which the tumblers ofthe lock (not shown) are retracted, thus actuates the switch.Accordingly, when the driver wishes to leave his car unattended butprotected by the alarm system with which it is connected, he can set thealarm by closing the lock switch after he has closed all of the cardoors. Any unauthorized attempt to enter the car will thus set off thealarm.

But when the driver or other authorized person possessing the proper keywishes to enter the car, he first deactivates the alarm by opening thelock switch, provided that weather conditions have not rendered the lockinoperable. To ensure that the lock can be operated, it must bethoroughly protected from the elements. The attainment of this importantobjective is the purpose of this invention and it is achieved by thevery simple but effective protective means, indicated generally by thenumeral 14, with which the lock switch is equipped.

This protection means comprises an elastically resilient cover member15, preferably a rectangular piece of relatively heavy rubber or thelike, mounted in front of the lock switch in a particular way by meansof a rigid bracket 16. The material of which the cover member is formedmust endure or tolerate all ranges of weather conditions withoutcracking or losing its resilience. Neoprene of about durometer hardnesshas been found to be satisfactory.

The bracket I6, which is preferably stamped from stiff sheet metal, hasa flat attaching arm I7 and an outwardly extending arm 18 to which thecover member is secured as by rivets 19. The fiat attaching arm has ahole through which the threaded portion 8 of the lock case passes, sothat this arm of the bracket is clamped between the wall 5 and theflange 7 during securement of the lock case to the wall.

The other arm 18 of the bracket is fiat throughout its entire extent andis joined to the arm 17 by an intermediate portion 20 which projectssubstantially perpendicularly from the attaching arm 17 and holds thearm 18 at an oblique angle to the axis of the lock case.

The angle and also the spacial relationship between the two arms of thebracket is important. In the preferred condition, the plane of the outerarm 18 passes through the front end portion of the lock case andobliquely intersects the axis of the lock case at a point substantiallyin the plane of the attaching arm 17, as indicated in broken lines inFIG. 2. With this disposition of the bracket arms the anchored endportion of the cover member lies fiat against the arm 17 for part of itslength and the opposite free end portion thereof-which may be considereda flap-bears firmly against the front face 21 of the lock cylinder whichprotrudes a slight distance ahead of the front end of the lock case. Notonly does this disposition of the bracket arms ensure firm engagement ofthe cover member flap portion against the front face of the cylinder,but it also takes advantage of the natural bend in the flap portionproduced thereby, to effect the most efficacious engagement between thecover flap and the front face of the lock cylinder in which the mouth ofthe keyway is located.

Complete surface-to-surface engagement between the cover flap and thefront face of the lock cylinder is not attained because of the slight,though inevitable, tilt of the cover flap. However, as seen in FIG. 2,the cover flap will bear solidly against the upper marginal edge portionof the front face of the cylinder. Hence, any moisture that may run downthe underside (back side) of the cover flap will not stand and gather onthis upper marginal edge portion of the cylinder; and if any suchmoisture is drawn into a possible crevice by capillarity, it will fiowfrom the mouth of the keyway since, as shown in FIG. 1, the keyway opensto the bottom edge of the front end portion of the lock cylinder.Obviously, of course, for this drain outlet to exist, the key bittingsmust face downwardly.

When the key is to be inserted into the lock, the cover flap is easilylifted off the mouth of the keyway, as shown in FIG. 3; and upon removalof the key, the cover flap snaps back to its closed position.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can beembodied in forms other than as herein disclosed for purposes ofillustration.

The invention is defined by the following claims:

lclaim:

l. A key-controlled lock switch intended to be mounted on an exteriorwall portion of an automobile which is subject to being seriouslyaffected by inclement weather, said lock switch having 1. a bored casewith a flange at its front end to overlie the exterior ofa wall in whichthe lock case is mounted,

2. a switch at the inner end of the lock case to be behind said wall,the switch being adapted to control an alarm system with which theautomobile is equipped and to deactivate the system when said switch isactuated, and

3. a rotatable cylinder in the bore of the lock case connected with theswitch to actuate it when rotated, the cylinder having tumblers torestrain the cylinder against rotation and a keyway to receive a key bywhich the tumblers may be retracted and the cylinder rotated, and havinga front face in which the mouth of the keyway is located, and which likethe front end of the case is ex posed to the weather when the lockswitch is in use, said lock switch being characterized by weatherprotection means covering the front face of the cylinder and the frontend of the lock case to prevent entry of moisture and dirt into thekeyway and/or the bore in which the cylinder is received, saidprotection means comprising:

A. a rigid bracket having angularly disposed first and second arms, thefirst arm having a hole in which the portion of the lock case directlyadjacent to its flange is received so that said first arm is clampedbetween the flange and a wall in which the lock case is mounted, thesecond arm having a flat outer end portion lying in a plane which passesthrough the front end portion of the lock case and obliquely intersectsthe axis of the lock case rearwardly of the front face of the cylinder;and

B. a normally flat cover member of elastically resilient materialflatwise anchored to said second arm and having a free end portionproviding a flap which flatwise engages the front face of the cylinderand is thereby flexed out of coplanar relationship with its anchoredportion and by such flexure is firmly held against the front face of thecylinder. 2. A key-controlled lock having a bored case with a flange atits front end to bear against a wall in which the case is mounted whenthe lock is in use, and a cylinder rotatably,

received in the bore of the lock case with the front face of thecylinder being so positioned that no part thereof lies inwardly of thefront of the lock case, the cylinder having a keyway, the mouth of whichopens to the front face of the cylinder, said lock being characterizedby weather protection means covering the front face of the cylinder andthe front end of the lock case, said weather protection meanscomprising:

A. a rigid bracket having angularly disposed first and second arms, thefirst arm having a hole in which the portion of the lock case directlyadjacent to its flange is received so that said first arm is clampedbetween the flange and a wall in which the lock case is mounted, thesecond arm having a flat outer end portion lying in a plane which passesthrough the front end portion of the lock case and obliquely intersectsthe axis of the lock case rearwardly of the front face of the cylinder;and

B a normally flat cover member of elastically resilient materialflatwise anchored to said second arm and having a free end portionproviding a flap which flatwise engages the front face of the cylinderand is thereby flexed out of coplanar relationship with itsanchoredportion and by such flexure is firmly held against the front face of thec linder. 3. he key-controlled lock of claim 2, wherein the plane of theflat outer end portion of the second arm of the bracket intersects theaxis of the lock case at a point substantially in the plane of the firstarm of the bracket.

4. The key-controlled lock of claim 2, wherein the front face of thecylinder is forwardly of the front end of the lock case, and

wherein the mouth of the keyway extends to the periphery of the frontend portion of the cylinder at a point which faces downwardly when thecylinder is in its key-inserting position of rotation, so that anymoisture which might enter the mouth of the keyway despite the presenceof the protective flap will drain from the keyway.

1. A key-controlled lock switch intended to be mounted on an exteriorwall portion of an automobile which is subject to being seriouslyaffected by inclement weather, said lock switch having
 1. a bored casewith a flange at its front end to overlie the exterior of a wall inwhich the lock case is mounted,
 2. a switch at the inner end of the lockcase to be behind said wall, the switch being adapted to control analarm system with which the automobile is equipped and to deactivate thesystem when said switch is actuated, and
 3. a rotatable cylinder in thebore of the lock case connected with the switch to actuate it whenrotated, the cylinder having tumblers to restrain the cylinder againstrotation and a keyway to receive a key by which the tumblers may beretracted and the cylinder rotated, and having a front face in which themouth of the keyway is located, and which like the front end of the caseis exposed to the weather when the lock switch is in use, said lockswitch being characterized by weather protection means covering thefront face of the cylinder and the front end of the lock case to prevententry of moisture and dirt into the keyway and/or the bore in which thecylinder is received, said protection means comprising: A. a rigidbracket having angularly disposed first and second arms, the first armhaving a hole in which the portion of the lock case directly adjacent toits flange is received so that said first arm is clamped between theflange and a wall in which the lock case is mounted, the second armhaving a flat outer end portion lying in a plane which passes throughthe front end portion of the lock case and obliquely intersects the axisof the lock case rearwardly of the front face of the cylinder; and B. anormally flat cover member of elastically resilient material flatwiseanchored to said second arm and having a free end portion providing aflap which flatwise engages the front face of the cylinder and isthereby flexed out of coplanar relationship with its anchored portionand by such flexure is firmly held against the front face of thecylinder.
 2. a switch at the inner end of the lock case to be behindsaid wall, the switch being adapted to control an alarm system withwhich the automobile is equipped and to deactivate the system when saidswitch is actuated, and
 2. A key-controlled lock having a bored casewith a Flange at its front end to bear against a wall in which the caseis mounted when the lock is in use, and a cylinder rotatably received inthe bore of the lock case with the front face of the cylinder being sopositioned that no part thereof lies inwardly of the front of the lockcase, the cylinder having a keyway, the mouth of which opens to thefront face of the cylinder, said lock being characterized by weatherprotection means covering the front face of the cylinder and the frontend of the lock case, said weather protection means comprising: A. arigid bracket having angularly disposed first and second arms, the firstarm having a hole in which the portion of the lock case directlyadjacent to its flange is received so that said first arm is clampedbetween the flange and a wall in which the lock case is mounted, thesecond arm having a flat outer end portion lying in a plane which passesthrough the front end portion of the lock case and obliquely intersectsthe axis of the lock case rearwardly of the front face of the cylinder;and B. a normally flat cover member of elastically resilient materialflatwise anchored to said second arm and having a free end portionproviding a flap which flatwise engages the front face of the cylinderand is thereby flexed out of coplanar relationship with its anchoredportion and by such flexure is firmly held against the front face of thecylinder.
 3. a rotatable cylinder in the bore of the lock case connectedwith the switch to actuate it when rotated, the cylinder having tumblersto restrain the cylinder against rotation and a keyway to receive a keyby which the tumblers may be retracted and the cylinder rotated, andhaving a front face in which the mouth of the keyway is located, andwhich like the front end of the case is exposed to the weather when thelock switch is in use, said lock switch being characterized by weatherprotection means covering the front face of the cylinder and the frontend of the lock case to prevent entry of moisture and dirt into thekeyway and/or the bore in which the cylinder is received, saidprotection means comprising: A. a rigid bracket having angularlydisposed first and second arms, the first arm having a hole in which theportion of the lock case directly adjacent to its flange is received sothat said first arm is clamped between the flange and a wall in whichthe lock case is mounted, the second arm having a flat outer end portionlying in a plane which passes through the front end portion of the lockcase and obliquely intersects the axis of the lock case rearwardly ofthe front face of the cylinder; and B. a normally flat cover member ofelastically resilient material flatwise anchored to said second arm andhaving a free end portion providing a flap which flatwise engages thefront face of the cylinder and is thereby flexed out of coplanarrelationship with its anchored portion and by such flexure is firmlyheld against the front face of the cylinder.
 3. The key-controlled lockof claim 2, wherein the plane of the flat outer end portion of thesecond arm of the bracket intersects the axis of the lock case at apoint substantially in the plane of the first arm of the bracket.
 4. Thekey-controlled lock of claim 2, wherein the front face of the cylinderis forwardly of the front end of the lock case, and wherein the mouth ofthe keyway extends to the periphery of the front end portion of thecylinder at a point which faces downwardly when the cylinder is in itskey-inserting position of rotation, so that any moisture which mightenter the mouth of the keyway despite the presence of the protectiveflap will drain from the keyway.